The stage is set, the characters are in motion and now it’s time to start a conversation among these unique—and quirky—characters. Yet, this seems easier said than done for a handful of writers. Many people find dialogue between two characters to be rather challenging, finding that their speech to feel lackluster and vague. So, what makes dialogue tricky and what can you do to overcome this overwhelming struggle within your own stories? Here, you will find tips and tricks that will allow you to overcome this key component when crafting a story.

Talk to Yourself

When writing a conversation, it’s important to have your dialogue sound and feel organic to your readers. Talking to yourself allows a conversation to flow more freely and acknowledges the awkward bits of dialogue to be heard. This can also give a real “voice” to your characters as well and distinguish what kind of personalities they have throughout the narrative. It is important to stick with your characters’ personalities and differentiate between them to not confuse the reader during conversations. While this method helps with flawed speech, it can also show you what kind of character you’re putting into words, whether they’re a nerd, a superhero, or a simple plain jane. While this method may feel silly, it can be a great tool to use if you’re feeling stuck in the middle of a conversation and need a better understanding of your own characters.

Variety Within

Sometimes writers continue the dialogue in a never-ending conversation that can quickly turn an interesting scene into a boring one. When writing dialogue, it’s important to acknowledge what the characters are doing just like people do in real life. A person wouldn’t stand still in the middle of an argument or remain emotionless when telling a joke would they?

Here’s an example of two characters talking with limited descriptions:

“Did you stop by the store?” She asked.

“No… was I supposed to?” He said.

Now here’s the same conversation with more:

She muted the TV as he came into the family room. “Did you stop by the store?” she asked. There were no groceries in hand when he walked through the front door of their shared home, finding that he hadn’t read her text in time.

“No…” he tossed his keys onto the kitchen counter and turned back to her, “was I supposed to?”

By writing descriptions as to what your character is doing can change the entire scene and keep the reader engaged. These additional details can further play into the scene that you have created while also gaining more information about the characters, showing rather than telling. This doesn’t mean that every line of dialogue needs to have a description but rather finding a perfect balance between the two can become crucial when writing. Once you find the healthy middle, scenes will feel more complete and realistic as you progress through the story.

Words Other than “Said”

Never be afraid to use other words to spice up the dialogue by using other words to describe how your characters are talking. This doesn’t mean to completely ditch the word “said” when describing how your character is talking but to choose better alternatives. These words can then inform your reader the tone the character is choosing to speak in.

Here, only “said” is used:

“Keep your voice down!” He said.

“Does it matter? We’re dead anyway!” They said.

“With you screaming like that we are!”

Whereas this example chooses different words:

“Keep your voice down!” He whispered harshly.

“Does it matter?” They shouted, their tone laced with ice. “We’re dead anyway!”

“With you screaming like that we are!”

These alternative words bring the scene to life as it allows your reader to imagine how the two characters are speaking to one another. When mixing up key words alongside the word said, this can also show your reader how a character is reacting to specific situations or other pieces of dialogue. This can then give a better picture as to what your character is like to your own reader.

These tips and tricks will allow you to further develop your characters and also practice how to write dialogue. A writer should never be afraid to admit that a scene needs editing or a conversation among characters feels awkward because achieving a sense of realism can be a difficult task. But with practice, alongside these tips and tricks, your characters will be brought to life in their unique worlds and feel alive to your readers.